The Trans Takeover of #2012vs2018 Shows How Trans Folks Are THRIVING

Earlier this week, #2012vs2018 started trending on Twitter. Most entries on the hashtag featured awkward teens becoming adults, but sprinkled among them were tweets from trans people, because hey — many of us have changed too.

Sharing before-and-after transition photos is common in many trans online spaces, and Twitter is no exception. The more remarkable changes often draw extra notice or can even go viral in larger communities like Reddit or Imgur. Though these pictures can sometimes feel objectifying when cis people gawk at them, they can also play an important role for pre-transition trans people.

I remember finding the timelines of trans women who had a similar facial structure to my own, and watching how HRT feminized their appearance was critical in building my confidence to try hormones for myself. As trans visibility has increased, more and more trans people are coming out and living as their true selves, and viral hashtags that feature us are part of that growing visibility.

Katelyn Burns is a freelance journalist and trans woman. Her other work has been featured for The Washington Post, VICE, Elle, Esquire, and Playboy, among others. She lives in Maine with her two young children.

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